(1) 4-6 Illustrated by Richard Williams. This gritty picture of childhood in Victorian London tells of three boys who are "mudlarks," those who search the banks of the Thames for salvageable items to sell for food and other necessities. The boys see a huge roll of sheet copper fall into the river--an immeasurable treasure--and retrieving it becomes the principal catalyst for the story. The pace is masterful, and humorous moments are blended with poignant ones. Glos.

Reviewer: Mary M. Burns | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2000